Avaneesh Interview
"What is philosophy if it cannot be lived! It is the everyday experiences that summate to form the philosophy of a lifetime."
Q. People know you as “The Selfish Philosopher.” How would you describe yourself beyond philosophy and writing?
I would call myself a Time Traveller, transcending temporality to witness the origin of civilizations, the creation of languages, the rise and fall of empires, the construction of megaliths, the emergence of spirituality... then return to the present and whisper those forgotten stories to the world.Q. In From Sunrise to Salvation, why did you choose everyday life to explain ancient Indian philosophy?
What is philosophy if it cannot be lived! It is the everyday experiences that summate to form the philosophy of a lifetime. Ancient Indians decoded this secret millennia ago. My book helps contemporary people LIVE ancient Indian philosophy, one activity at a time.Q. Which idea from ancient India do you think today’s generation needs the most?
The ancient Upanishadic tradition encouraged enquiry: questioning everything until one is convinced, rather than accepting whatever is being fed. I want today's generation to be curious and to embark on a path of critical enquiry to discover their own truth.Q. How do you make deep Sanskrit philosophy simple and relatable for modern readers?
Simplicity is the hardest thing to achieve. I believe that if I cannot explain even the most complicated concepts to a ten-year-old, I have not understood the concept clearly. Clarity brings simplicity. And the best way to convey any concept is to connect it with an activity they can try and practice. That is exactly what I have done in my book.Q. What inspired the title From Sunrise to Salvation?
The title beautifully encapsulates the entirety of my book. What an ancient person did right from the moment of waking up till the climax of life...the awakening...the self-realization...the salvation. Now, can you think of a better title?Q. Your book connects love, society, and spirituality beautifully. How did you bring these themes together in one narrative?
The process was simple. I looked at the narrative through the lens of ancient Indian thought. For them, every moment of existence and non-existence is spiritual. They spiritualised even the very physical process of lovemaking. This transformation at the individual level leads to spiritual evolution at the societal and eventually, the cosmic level.Their foundational dictum was Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam : meaning all beings on earth are part of a single family, connected at the spiritual level through universal love. So, my job was easy because my ancient ancestors had neatly done their job thousands of years ago.
Q. How have Kathakali and Mizhavu influenced your storytelling and philosophical thinking?
Kutiyattom (where mizhavu is the main percussion) which is the most ancient dance form in human history, and Kathakali, besides being highly spiritual and historical, takes attention to detail to another level. They go into the most nuanced details of the story and the deepest corners of the character's psyche.This helps me understand ancient culture, society, and its psyche from an authentic vantage point. After all, every Kathakali performance is my time-travelling to become Krishna or Rama or Draupadi or Arjuna, living their lives as if they were mine.
Bio
Avaneesh, known as The Selfish Philosopher, is a philosophy researcher and psychology enthusiast exploring the lived wisdom of ancient civilisations. A polyglot who speaks eight languages, he engages deeply with original Sanskrit texts to decode the philosophical and cultural foundations of ancient India.A storyteller at heart, he has led international teams of artists and writers to create original animation content for global children’s broadcasters. Trained in Kathakali and an exponent of the Mizhavu, Avaneesh also mentors startups focused on disability, accessibility, and inclusion. He lives in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Interviewed By Irene Elina Eldhose
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